Indonesia in 2025: Amnesty Warns of State Repression, Inequality, and Ecological Disaster

Notable incidents included violent attacks on Indigenous communities in Simalungun, arrests of environmental activists from Walhi and Kamisan, and the detention of an Indigenous leader in West Kalimantan after criticizing deforestation. Authorities also banned discussions of a critical book, Reset Indonesia, and intimidation escalated into acts of terror.

“These are systematic efforts to silence those defending the environment and Indigenous land rights,” Usman said, accusing the state of covering up its failure to manage natural resources justly.

Amnesty also criticized the expanding role of the military beyond defense, following revisions to the TNI Law that allow involvement in agriculture, national projects, social programs, and civilian posts. The organization warned that blurred civilian-military boundaries risk reviving patterns of repression.

Additionally, Amnesty condemned the government’s decision to name former president Suharto a national hero and to rewrite national history, arguing that it denies responsibility for past gross human rights violations, including the 1965 tragedy and later abuses.

Human rights setbacks also affected LGBTQIA+ groups. Police carried out discriminatory raids in Jakarta and West Java, arresting more than 100 people in what authorities labeled “sex parties.” Amnesty reported forced HIV tests, unlawful seizures of personal belongings, and the unauthorized dissemination of detainees’ photos.

The report highlighted worsening economic inequality. Citing data from CELIOS, Amnesty noted that the wealth of Indonesia’s 50 richest individuals equals that of 50 million citizens. Meanwhile, job insecurity intensified, with 79,000 layoffs recorded by September 2025.

A flagship school meal program, promoted as a solution to nutrition and health issues, turned into a public health crisis. More than 11,000 children were reported to have suffered food poisoning, with civil society groups estimating even higher numbers. Amnesty criticized the program as rushed, poorly supervised, and lacking adequate research.